Release Agent Applicator and Method of Using Same

Abstract

Water, oils and other liquid release agents are thinly and uniformly applied to hot cooking surfaces using an open-cell silicone foam structure. The foam is selected to have characteristics. It does not degrade chemically or physically when exposed to the liquid release agents or high-temperatures commonly encountered when frying foods.

1 . A release agent applicator comprising:
 a foam structure, comprised of a plurality of cells, the cells defined by a wall with at least one opening through which the release agent can pass.   
     
     
         2 . The release agent applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the foam structure is comprised of an open cell foam. 
     
     
         3 . The release agent applicator of  claim 2 , wherein the open cell foam structure is configured to be an elongated tube, having a hollow interior. 
     
     
         4 . The release agent applicator of  claim 2 , wherein the open cell foam structure is configured to be an amorphous pad. 
     
     
         5 . The release agent applicator of  claim 2 , wherein the open cell foam structure is configured to be a parallelepiped. 
     
     
         6 . The release agent applicator of  claim 2 , wherein the open cell foam structure is configured to be a disk. 
     
     
         7 . The release agent applicator of  claim 3 , further comprised of a sleeve extending through the hollow interior of the tube. 
     
     
         8 . The release agent applicator of  claim 7 , wherein the sleeve and tube are configured to be joined together by a friction fit. 
     
     
         9 . The release agent applicator of  claim 7 , further comprised of an axle extending through the sleeve, the axle being attached to handle that extends away from the axle. 
     
     
         10 . The release agent applicator of  claim 1 , further comprised of a release agent on the foam structure. 
     
     
         11 . The release agent applicator of  claim 2 , wherein the open cell foam structure is a silicon-based foam, having a oxidation temperature/melting point/of approximately 500 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         12 . The release agent applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the foam structure is comprised of a material selected from the materials listed in 21 C.F.R. §177.2600. 
     
     
         13 . The release agent applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the foam structure material is viscoelastic. 
     
     
         14 . A release agent applicator comprising:
 an elastic and porous material comprised of cells, a plurality of cells each defined by a wall with at least one opening through which the release agent can pass, the material having a pore density of between about 25 and 400 pores per lineal inch.   
     
     
         15 . The release agent applicator of  claim 13 , wherein the material has a pore density of between about 60 and 100 pores per lineal inch. 
     
     
         16 . The release agent applicator of  claim 13 , wherein the material has a pore density of about 90 pores per lineal inch. 
     
     
         17 . The release agent applicator of  claim 13 , further comprised of a release agent on the foam structure. 
     
     
         18 . A method of applying a release agent to a cooking surface comprising the steps of:
 immersing an open cell foam structure, into a release agent, the open cell foam structure being comprised of a plurality of cells, the cells defined by a wall with at least one opening through which the release agent can pass;   applying open cell foam structure to the cooking surface; and   translating the open cell foam structure over the cooking surface, thereby distributing the release agent on the cooking surface.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the open cell foam structure is a silicon-based foam, having a oxidation temperature/melting point/of approximately 500 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the open cell foam structure is an elongated tube, having a hollow interior and wherein the step of translating the open cell foam structure over the cooking surface is comprised of rolling the elongated tube over the cooking surface. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the open cell foam structure is an amorphous pad. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the open cell foam structure is a parallelepiped.